Located on the south coast of England, Portsmouth is an historic city steeped in maritime history. Portsmouth is a convenient departure point for France and the Brittany Ferries’ crossing only takes three hours. One daily sailing ferries passengers across the channel to the city of Cherbourg.

Portsmouth’s waterfront is a busy hub of shops, bars, restaurants with six kilometres of promenades in the harbour area. The Continental Ferry Terminal is the closest UK port to Paris and London, with around 3.5 million passengers passing through it each year. An excellent road network connects Portsmouth to London and the rest of the UK.

The ferry terminal boasts a good range of facilities including a cafeteria, bar, newsagents and gift shop. Passengers can purchase currency for France from the bureau de change and there is also an ATM in the concourse of the ferry port. A baby changing room is convenient for passengers with young children.

P&O Ferries provide the speediest crossing to France on their seasonal Fastcraft ferry, with a journey time of 2 hours, 45 minutes. Conventional ferries take five hours, and eight hours during the night. The Continental Ferry Terminal has a disabled toilet and assistance is available for passengers with boarding difficulties.

Cherbourg is also a historic town, and important naval base. Cherbourg serves as a gateway to the scenic Normandy region which is famed for its beautiful beaches and striking coastline. Ferry passengers arriving in Cherbourg from the UK, can enjoy some of the best seafood in France.

Over one million passengers pass through the port each year and although the ferry terminal lacks good dining facilities, there are a number of excellent restaurants in the area. The Cherbourg ferry terminal also includes a souvenir shops, newsagents and shower facility.

Tags: Cherbourg, Continental Ferry Terminal, England, France, London, P&O ferries, Paris, Portsmouth, UK